Tyrese Haliburton was making a name for himself in the 2025 NBA postseason. The 25-year-old hit big shot after big shot, leading the Indiana Pacers to 15 postseason victories.
It takes 16 to win the NBA Finals, and on Sunday night, the Pacers came up just short, falling in Game 7.
Haliburton could only do so much. After injuring his calf in Game 5, he knew the risks of continuing to play. He competed in Game 6, logging 23 minutes of action in a 108–91 win, and came away feeling pretty good. He scored 14 points in that game.
It had been a great start for the former Iowa State guard; he played the first seven minutes of Game 7 and scored nine points, knocking down three straight 3-point shots.
That’s when he went down with an injury NBA fans won’t soon forget. Lying on the floor in obvious pain, he was unable to return. He's thought to have torn his right Achilles tendon, an injury that would sideline him for much of the 2025–26 season.
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Following the game, his father, John Haliburton, entered the locker room and had little to say. He spoke with Andscape after the game and shared the emotional moment:
“There was nothing to be said," John Haliburton said. "We already knew there was nothing to be said. My man, you don’t need to talk about that. My heart was broken. It was just like stupid unbelievable. We came so far just to fall down like this. But like I said, nothing happened that God didn’t allow. I don’t care what you say. I don’t care how you try to do it. Nothing happened unless God allows it.”
In the postseason, Haliburton played in 23 games, averaging 17.3 points and 8.3 assists per game. During the regular season, his numbers were similar — 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game.
His injury echoed others seen during the same postseason, including Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Bucks guard Damian Lillard. Kevin Durant suffered a similar injury in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Haliburton addressed his condition and the risk of playing before Game 7.
“I’m pretty much in the same standpoint I was before Game 6," he said. "A little stiff, a little sore, rather. Good thing I only had to play like 23 minutes. I’ve been able to get even more treatment and do more things. Just trying to take care of it the best I can. But I’ll be ready to go for Game 7.”
Indiana went on to lose the decisive game, 103-91. It marked the first NBA title for the Oklahoma City Thunder since relocating. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 24 points, while T.J. McConnell added 16.
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